Welcome to the first New Minister Search Newsletter! Over the next two years, we will use this newsletter to share the process of hiring a new minister and updates about what’s happening.
Rev. Barbara Gadon will retire at the end of June 2022. We will spend the next few months as a congregation reflecting on all we have been able to accomplish together and honoring her service as our minister.
We hope that a new interim minister will begin ministry at Eliot on Aug. 1, 2022.
The Eliot Board of Trustees has begun the search for an interim minister to serve us for two years while we search for the settled minister.
Who will choose the interim minister?
The Board of Trustees has selected an interim search committee. The members include:
Steve Harvey (Board President), Claire Wyneken (Board President-Elect), Chuck Schuder (Board member), Kalen Ponche (Board secretary), and Jennifer Stauber (congregant). The committee will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees who will hire the interim minister.
Why will we have an interim minister?
The Unitarian Universalist Association strongly recommends congregations have a two-year period of interim ministry. An interim minister will help us closely examine what we want and need from our next settled minister.
Why two years?
According to the UUA, congregations that have at least a 24-month interim ministry period have a much greater success rate (90 percent) at calling a minister following their interim period than congregations doing only a single year of interim ministry (56 percent). Their mantra is “doing it well beats doing it quickly.” We plan to hire a minister on a one-year contract with a plan to renew for a second year if it is mutually agreeable.
What’s the timeline?
The interim minister search committee will interview interim ministerial candidates in April and May of 2022 and will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees in May. If all goes according to plan, the interim minister will begin work August 1.
Timeline for Interim Minister:
March 2022: Board of Trustees selects interim search committee
April 7, 2022: Candidates for interim ministry can look at Eliot’s profile page on the UUA website.
May 2022: Interim minister search committee interviews candidates. Interim committee ranks candidates and presents information to the board. Interim candidates rank preferred churches. Board negotiates salary with interim minister. New minister is announced.
Aug. 1, 2022: Interim minister begins.
Search for the Settled Minister Timeline
Fall 2022: Interim minister will work with the congregation to identify our challenges, opportunities, and hopes for the future.
February-April 2023: The settled minister search committee is selected. The process for selecting this committee is to be determined.
May-August 2023: Search committee retreat
September-November 2023: Congregational focus groups
January-March 2024: Candidate interviews and visits
April 2024: Candidate announced
May 2024: Congregation would vote on candidate
Aug. 1, 2025: Settled minister will begin ministry.
Who is eligible to be considered for the interim ministry?
The UUA has a pool of candidates who are trained to serve as interim ministers for Unitarian Universalist churches. An “inside candidate” or a person who is already working for Eliot Chapel cannot be considered for an interim ministry position.
Who is eligible to be considered for the settled ministry?
An interim minister cannot be considered for a settled minister position. The Settled Minister Selection Committee can decide to consider an “inside candidate” for the settled minister position. This consideration would happen before the selection committee considers other candidates.
How can I stay informed about this process?
Look for regular updates in this newsletter as well as This Week at Eliot. The Board and selection committee will also post updates to the Board of Trustees page as well. If you have additional questions, please email chair@eliotchapel.org.
